exv99w1
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TSX: GSC |
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NEWS RELEASE
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AMEX: GSS |
GOLDEN STAR REPORTS INCREASES IN PRODUCTION AND NET INCOME
FOR THE SECOND QUARTER AND FIRST HALF 2003
Denver, Colorado, August 5, 2003: Golden Star Resources Ltd. (AMEX: GSS; TSX:
GSC) is pleased to announce second quarter revenue of $12.7 million and net
income of $4.1 million ($0.038 per share), compared with revenue of $9.7
million and net income of $1.6 million ($0.024 per share) for the same quarter
in 2002. Net income for the 2003 quarter included a one-time gain of $1.9
million relating to the sale of certain securities. Excluding the one time
gain, net income in the quarter increased by 41% over the second quarter in
2002. (All currency in this news release is expressed in U.S. dollars, unless
otherwise noted.)
Gold production from the Companys Bogoso/Prestea mine in Ghana increased in
the second quarter to 36,042 ounces at a cash operating cost of $188 per ounce,
and was sold for an average realized gold price of $347 per ounce. This is
compared to 30,419 ounces of gold production at a cash operating cost of $173
per ounce sold and an average realized gold price of $312 per ounce in the same
period in 2002.
For the first six months of 2003, the Company had record revenue of $27.8
million and record net income of $8.4 million, or $0.083 per share, compared to
revenue of $19.0 million and net income of $3.0 million ($0.047 per share) for
the comparable period last year.
In the first half of 2003, gold production increased to 78,398 ounces at a cash
operating cost of $178 per ounce and an average realized gold price of $351 per
ounce, compared to 62,064 ounces at a cash operating cost of $174 per ounce and
an average realized gold price of $301 per ounce in the same period in 2002.
The improved financial results in the second quarter and first half of 2003
were primarily due to increased production and higher gold prices.
Peter Bradford, President and CEO of Golden Star commented, We are very
pleased that our operations at Bogoso/Prestea in Ghana continue to perform
well, with record gold production for the first six months. However, the other
good news is the progress we have made in our development and expansion plans
with the favorable completion of the Wassa feasibility study and the decision
to commence development. We are also preparing technical studies on the
possible expansion of Bogoso/Prestea, and we continue to evaluate the Prestea
Underground
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Golden Star Resources Ltd. |
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PR03-20 Page 1 of 6 |
property. Wassa is expected to produce 75,000 ounces in 2004 and 140,000
ounces in 2005 at cash operating costs of around $200 per ounce.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Financial results are summarized as follows:
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Quarter ended June 30, |
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Six months ended June 30, |
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2003 |
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2002 |
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2003 |
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2002 |
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Gold shipped (ounces) |
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36,042 |
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30,419 |
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78,398 |
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62,064 |
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Price realized ($ per ounce) |
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347 |
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312 |
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351 |
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301 |
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Cash operating cost ($ per ounce) (1) |
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188 |
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173 |
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178 |
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174 |
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Royalties ($ per ounce) |
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27 |
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22 |
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27 |
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21 |
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Total cash cost ($ per ounce) |
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215 |
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195 |
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205 |
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195 |
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Revenues (in thousands $) |
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12,693 |
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9,699 |
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27,834 |
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19,031 |
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Net income (in thousands $) |
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4,101 |
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1,557 |
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8,447 |
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3,011 |
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Net income per share ($) |
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0.038 |
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0.024 |
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0.083 |
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0.047 |
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Net income per fully diluted share ($) |
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0.036 |
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0.022 |
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0.078 |
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0.044 |
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Average shares outstanding (in
millions) |
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107.6 |
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64.9 |
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102.3 |
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63.6 |
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Fully diluted (in millions) |
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115.0 |
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71.8 |
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109.0 |
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68.9 |
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Shares outstanding, period end
(in millions) |
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107.8 |
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67.0 |
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107.8 |
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67.0 |
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Note 1. See note on non-GAAP measures below.
OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS
All production in the first six months of 2003 was mined from the Plant-North
pit at Prestea and processed through the Bogoso processing plant. Production
details are as follows:
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Quarter ended June 30, |
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Six months ended June 30, |
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2003 |
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2002 |
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2003 |
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2002 |
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Ore mined (thousands tonnes) |
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502.6 |
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586.1 |
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1,111.3 |
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1,227.7 |
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Waste mined (thousands tonnes) |
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1,406.5 |
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1,109.2 |
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3,578.6 |
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2,546.2 |
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Tonnes milled (thousands) |
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459.5 |
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561.4 |
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1,016.1 |
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1,103.4 |
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Average grade milled (g/t) |
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3.31 |
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2.27 |
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3.29 |
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2.44 |
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Mill recovery (%) |
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75.5 |
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73.2 |
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74.8 |
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71.7 |
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CASH AND CASH FLOW
Cash flow from operations (before working capital changes) totaled $5.8 million
during the second quarter, versus $2.2 million during the same period last
year. For the first six months of 2003, cash flow totaled $12.1 million,
versus $4.4 million for the 2002 period.
At June 30, 2003, cash and short-term investments were $41.2 million, up from
$20.0 million at December 31, 2002.
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Golden Star Resources Ltd. |
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PR03-20 Page 2 of 6 |
BOGOSO/PRESTEA
The Bogoso mill processed an average of 5,050 tonnes of ore per day, down from
6,169 tonnes in the second quarter of 2002. The tonnage decrease resulted from
feed conveyor mechanical problems and slower processing due to increased
amounts of transitional oxide/sulfide ore. Long-lead-time maintenance parts
for the conveyor were received and the necessary repairs were made early in the
third quarter.
Although a significant amount of transition ore was processed in the quarter,
gold recoveries improved relative to the previous quarter and the second
quarter of 2002. We expect to process proportionately less transition material
for the balance of the year and to achieve recoveries closer to our target of
80%. We are also doing additional test work to better understand the
metallurgical requirements for the transition material.
Cash operating costs increased to $188 per ounce in this past quarter compared
to 2002s second quarter cash operating costs of $173 per ounce, as a result of
a longer haul from the higher-grade Plant-North pit, increased power costs,
higher mine stripping and higher reagent usage for the transitional zone ore.
Having produced 78,398 ounces at a cash operating cost of $178 per ounce in the
first half of 2003, we remain on target to produce an estimated 140,000 ounces
for the full year at a cash operating cost of $185 per ounce.
EXPANSION AT BOGOSO/PRESTEA
Technical studies for the expansion of Bogoso/Prestea are underway. The
Company purchased a 4,500 tonne-per-day carbon-in-leach plant for $4.3 million
in July. We plan to use this plant to process oxide and non-refractory ores
from Bogoso/Prestea and to complete the relocation of the plant to
Bogoso/Prestea during 2004. In parallel, we plan to modify the present 6,000
tonne-per-day CIL plant at Bogoso by adding a bio-oxidation circuit to process
refractory ores.
With these additions, the Bogoso/Prestea milling complex would be able to
simultaneously process a wider range of ore types including both non-refractory
and refractory/sulfide ore at Bogoso/Prestea, resulting in increased production
and significantly simplifying our future mine scheduling. Preliminary
estimates of capital costs, including the acquisition of the CIL plant, the
Bogoso plant expansion and the expansion of the Bogoso/Prestea mining fleet,
total about $60 million.
WASSA DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
The Wassa feasibility was completed in July, although construction on mill and
processing plant foundations began earlier during the second quarter. In 2004,
production will begin by milling the material on the existing heap leach pads,
which will be processed through the carbon-in-leach plant, producing an
estimated 75,000 ounces at cash operating costs of $211 per ounce. When mining
from the open pit commences in 2005, Wassa is expected to produce 140,000
ounces annually at an average cash operating cost of about $200 per ounce.
Construction and development costs at Wassa are projected at $25.5 million,
with an additional $14.2 million of capital for a mining fleet expected to be
acquired in 2004 and 2005.
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Golden Star Resources Ltd. |
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PR03-20 Page 3 of 6 |
The permitting process is proceeding on schedule, with a public forum having
been successfully held in May.
PRESTEA UNDERGROUND
The Prestea Underground is an underground mine beneath our Prestea open-pit
property. The mine was put on care and maintenance in 2002 at the time of our
acquisition. Golden Stars 90% owned subsidiary has an approximate 60%
managing joint venture interest in the Prestea Underground and is increasing
this interest by funding exploration and development expenditures. Electronic
compilation of 130 kilometers of underground workings together with old drill
and channel sampling data is now 80% complete. This is the first time in
Presteas long mining history that data from widely different sources has been
placed in one comprehensive database, allowing for more constructive modeling
and interpretation. An underground exploration drilling and sampling program
commenced in the third quarter and is targeting zones identified in the
analysis of the newly consolidated data.
EXPANSION OF GHANA LAND POSITION
During the second quarter, the Company acquired the Mampon gold property from
Ashanti Goldfields Company Limited for $9.5 million. Mampon delivers
approximately 234,000 ounces of additional open pit gold reserves grading in
excess of 5 grams per tonne to our Bogoso/Prestea mining complex. We have also
agreed to acquire from Birim Goldfields Inc. the nearby Asikuma and Mansiso
exploration properties for $3.4 million plus a net smelter return royalty. The
Birim transaction is subject to customary approvals from the Government of
Ghana and other conditions and is expected to be completed in August. In
total, the three properties deliver access to an additional 45 kilometers of
the Ashanti Trend immediately north of Bogoso.
With these acquisitions, Golden Star is now the largest mining property owner
on the prolific Ashanti Trend, controlling over 100 kilometers of strike
length.
FUNDING OF PROJECTS
An equity offering of 8.2 million common shares to raise Cdn$32 million
(approximately US$23 million) is expected to close on August 14. We plan to
use the proceeds (i) to buy back the royalties and debt on the Wassa property,
(ii) for exploration and development activities in Ghana, and (iii) for general
corporate purposes. We currently intend that the Wassa development will be
funded from current cash resources and cash flow from operations. If the
technical studies on the Bogoso/Prestea expansion are favorable, the Company
expects to fund the expansion from a combination of external debt financing and
cash from operations.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an
offer to buy the securities described herein in any jurisdiction. The offering
may be made in Canada only by means of a prospectus. The offering may be made
in the United States only by the means of a prospectus and related prospectus
supplement.
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Golden Star Resources Ltd. |
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PR03-20 Page 4 of 6 |
COMPANY PROFILE
Golden Star holds interests in three major gold properties in Ghana, West
Africa: a 90% equity interest in the Bogoso/Prestea open-pit mine, an
approximate 60% equity interest in the inactive Prestea underground mine
through a 90% controlled subsidiary, and a 90% equity interest in the Wassa
development project. In addition, the Company has other gold exploration
interests elsewhere in West Africa and in the Guiana Shield in South America.
Its Bogoso/Prestea mine is expected to produce 140,000 ounces at cash operating
costs of $185 per ounce in 2003.
Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information: Some statements contained in
this news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that
forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and involve risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Such
statements include comments regarding the establishment and estimates of
mineral reserves and non-reserve mineral resources, the recovery of any mineral
reserves, construction cost estimates, construction completion dates, equipment
requirements, production, production commencement dates, grade, processing
capacity, potential mine life, results of feasibility studies, development,
costs, expenditures, mine re-opening and exploration. Factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially include timing of and unexpected events
during construction, expansion and start-up; variations in ore grade, tonnes
mined, crushed or milled; delay or failure to receive board or government
approvals; timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms;
technical, permitting, mining or processing issues, and fluctuations in gold
price and costs. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting
the Company will be those anticipated by management. Please refer to the
discussion of these and other factors in our Form 10-K for 2002. The forecasts
contained in this press release constitute managements current estimates, as
of the date of this press release, with respect to the matters covered thereby.
We expect that these estimates will change as new information is received and
that actual results will vary from these estimates, possibly by material
amounts. While we may elect to update these estimates at any time, we do not
undertake to update any estimate at any particular time or in response to any
particular event. Investors and others should not assume that any forecasts in
this press release represent managements estimate as of any date other than
the date of this press release.
Non-GAAP Measures: In this press release, the terms total cash cost per
ounce and cash operating cost per ounce are used. Total cash cost per ounce
is equal to mining operations expense for the period divided by the number of
ounces of gold shipped during the period. Cash operating cost per ounce is
equivalent to total cash cost per ounce, less production royalties. We have
included cash operating cost information to provide investors with information
about the cash generating capacities of our mining operations. This
information differs from measures of performance determined in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in Canada and the United States
and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of
performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. These measures are not
necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flow from operations as
determined under GAAP and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of
other companies.
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Golden Star Resources Ltd. |
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PR03-20 Page 5 of 6 |
Consolidated Financial Statements can be found on the Form 10-Q filed with the
SEC on August 4, 2003, and can be accessed through the Companys website:
gsr.com.
For further information, please contact:
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GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES LTD |
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+1 800 553 8436 |
Peter Bradford, President and CEO |
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+1 303 894 4613 |
Allan Marter, Chief Financial Officer |
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+1 303 894 4631 |
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Golden Star Resources Ltd. |
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PR03-20 Page 6 of 6 |